Other Women's Jobs // Julie Danjoux - Interior Designer

NAME: JULIE DANJOUX

AGE: 35

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: juliedanjoux_homeconsulting

JOB TITLE: Founder/Interior Designer

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2015

About Me

I am the founder and lead designer behind Julie Danjoux Home Consulting. My journey began in the corporate boardrooms of S&P 500 companies, leading to over a decade in project management. That experience eventually led me to renovate my own investment property in France – transforming a1992 wooden condo into a stunning beach retreat from 7,000 kilometers away in Dubai. That was my pivotal "lightbulb" moment, it was time to live my purpose!

In March 2024, after completing residential design qualifications, I took the leap from the corporate world to live my purpose. Now, two years into building the firm, I specialise in a signature style: Modern Organic Luxury with a touch of Boldness.

I still pinch myself sometimes remembering how lucky I am having clients who trust me and allow me to explore my creativity to its fullest.

What sets me apart is my Home Consulting approach. I don’t just "decorate"; I consult. I dive deep into a client’s long-term financial objectives, cultural background, and daily habits. Drawing on a decade of S&P 500 project management, I treat every renovation as a high-stakes investment. 

Whether I am designing a family residence or staging an Airbnb, I design homes with intention. Every decision is a balance of elevated aesthetics and optimized budget management to create timeless interiors that feel refined, but warm and personal – that truly reflect who people are and feel good to live in.

My clients often call me the “Queen of Small Spaces”. I simply adore spatial optimization challenges, deep understanding of floor plans and structural flow; my brain feels like it’s playing a high-stakes game of Tetris to ensure every square meter is utilized.

Ultimately, I am a “Creative Fixer”. In the Dubai market, I’m essentially a professional problem-solver with a mood board. I bridge the gap between a wild creative vision and millimetric execution – playing ‘contractor whisperer’ to keep schedules on track while protecting my clients' investment and sanity.

A Day in My Life: Organised Chaos

As an entrepreneur, I wear many (capital letters would be in order) hats. While no two days are the same, here is how I navigate the "multifaceted" world of Dubai design.

8:00 AM – Rise & Shine, I wish.

I am a night owl team member, my creativity and productivity love to peak at night. Sorry, not sorry to the 5 AM risers. The only thing that makes me happy to open my eyes is opening my curtains to the peaceful greenery of the Dubai Hills park and taking Woolie, my favourite assistant designer and social media doggie mascot, out for a nice walk in the park.

10:00 AM – (Many) Hats On.

I am finally operational; this is my time for strategic admin and digital management between bites. The Frenchie in me would never skip breakfast! I check my Instagram and engage with my community. I catch up on emails, invoices, site planning and business development while I wait for the Dubai traffic to clear out.

11:00 AM – Hit the Emptyish Roads.

I am usually on-site at projects like a villa renovation in Arabian Ranches or a Bulgari mansion staging in Jumeirah Bay. This is the most "hands-on" part of my qualifications. I meet with contractors, joiners, and electricians to ensure that the vision we put on paper is being executed with millimetric precision.

Being a designer in Dubai means being a problem solver. If a custom-built vanity doesn't clear a doorway or if a shipment of Italian tiles is delayed at the port, this is when the "consulting" side of my brain takes over. I thrive in this environment. It is very much a love and hate relationship. The reality is that I am glued to my phone 10 hours a day. WhatsApp has become the biggest situationship of my life: existing clients, potential clients, contractors, joiners, stores, deliveries, 3D designer, plumber, electricians, countless specialised suppliers: curtains, wallpapers, special paints, cushions, rugs, plants & trees, you name it!

1:00 PM – Sourcing in the Creative Heartland

Al Quoz is my second home. I spend my time visiting my favourite workshops and showrooms to check on bespoke furniture pieces and latest collections or working from one of its many hidden gems.

I might spend an hour at a marble yard selecting the perfect slab of Statuario for a kitchen island followed by a quick healthy bite at one of the many cafés.

3:00 PM – The Golden Hours

These are for client consultations. I often meet clients at their homes or in a quiet lounge to discuss their project and present my designs. I bring physical samples to bring the mood boards to life. I act as a guide – I listen to their feedback and adjust the vision while making sure to share my expertise. Sometimes, we spend the whole hour discussing a single light fixture; other times, we sign off on an entire floor plan. It is a collaborative dance that requires empathy and clear communication.

The afternoon is as well dedicated to deep creative work. I retreat to my office and focus on mood boards and technical drawings. This is where the magic happens. I lay out the "narrative" of a home. I focus on space planning, and I find and build my creative vision. If I’m working on a nursery or a family room, it is my duty to think about safety, storage, and the evolution of the family over the next five years.

7:00 PM – Time to Sweat

Interior Design can become a pretty stressful daily life – constant multitasking and problem-solving requirements while pushing our creative brain to maximum capacity. I am big on living an active lifestyle. Sweating it all is definitely my happy place and one of the things keeping me sane (let’s not forget to mention Woolie in this section or he would dare to pee on my rug to punish me).

You will find me playing Padel twice a week, lifting weights twice a week, attending circuit training classes, and so on. My brain completely switches off for an hour, the best feeling in the world!

9:00 PM – The Creative Soup Maker

Realistically, two scenarios are happening around that time. It will mainly depend on the stage of the projects I am working on.

If one of them is at the “design and conceptualisation” stage, this is when my brain decides to take things up a notch and my creativity reaches its full speed. It scans all the different conversations, images, inspirations and decisions of the day, blend it all, and activate the “soup maker”. I sometimes get so focused and excited to work on some concepts that I end up putting an all-night in and not realising the day is already rising. Weird, I know... I guess this is what happens when you are living your purpose.

Scenario number 2, Woolie and I are enjoying a feast in front of Netflix. That’s called living your purpose as well I would say!

At last, I update my project management software one last time, ensuring that all my orders are tracked and my schedules are set for the following morning. My day ends as it began – surrounded by beauty and preparing for the next day of transforming houses into homes. Cheesy, right?!

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